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The 'Daily Show' alum will create short-form digital content, which will be showcased on HBO Now, HBO Go and other platforms, and includes a first-look option for other film and TV ventures.
Jon Stewart has a new home: HBO.
Stewart has signed a four-year production deal with the premium cable network and will kick off the pact with the creation of topical short-form digital content.
The deal will see the short-form digital content showcased on HBO Now, HBO Go and other platforms. Also included in the pact is a first-look option for other film and TV ventures.
The first HBO project will see The Daily Show alum work with cloud graphics company OTOY Inc., to develop new technology to allow him to produce timely short-form digital content, which will be refreshed on HBO Now multiple times throughout the day. Additional projects will be announced as they are confirmed.
"Jon Stewart led a revolution that changed the face of TV comedy on the Daily Show,” HBO programming president Michael Lombardo said in a release announcing the news Tuesday. “He graced our network nearly 20 years ago, so we’re thrilled to welcome back his immense talents in this next chapter of his career.”
Added Stewart: “Appearing on television 22 minutes a night clearly broke me. I’m pretty sure I can produce a few minutes of content every now and again.”
The gig marks Stewart's first pact since stepping down from The Daily Show earlier this year after a 16-year run. The Comedy Central series recently won three Emmys, including variety talk series. During his run, the show received 23 Emmys and two Peabody Awards.
Stewart is a two-time former Oscar host and wrote the bestselling book Naked Pictures of Famous People, and co-authored the bestselling books America (The Book): A Guide to Democracy Inaction and Earth (The Book): A Visitor’s Guide to the Human Race. He wrote and directed the 2014 feature film Rosewater.
The deal brings Stewart back to HBO, where he previously had a stand-up special Jon Stewart: Unleavened, and hosted George Carlin: 40 Years of Comedy, Mr. Show with Bob and David and had a recurring role on The Larry Sanders Show.
For HBO, the Stewart deal comes as the premium cabler recently signed pacts with Bill Simmons, Vice Daily Show and Sesame Street. Stewart joins John Oliver, who filled in for him while he was filming Rosewarter, at HBO.
Jon Stewart
